Interviews are difficult enough, but panel interviews, where you walk in only to face a gauntlet of people sitting around a table waiting to pepper you with questions, can be disarming and difficult to deal with. The best way to deal with these groups is to start a conversation among the members of the panel while you answer their questions. Doing so can give you valuable insight into what working at the company is like from several different points of view.

At my last job, the panel interview was the only kind of interview we conducted. The candidate had some time with the hiring manager first, but afterward they were led into a conference room to be evaluated on their technical skills first, and then met with a different group to evaluate their cultural fit for the organization. Both situations were meant to be a conversation, but if the candidate was nervous, it could look like an inquisition instead. The key to dealing with those kinds of interviews is to answer the questions, but also use the group as an opportunity to get the group talking.

Career expert Hannah Morgan, writing for US News, notes that if you can, find out ahead of time who'll be in your panel interview so you can look them up on LinkedIn, but if you can't, asking questions like "What did the last person in this position go on to do?" or "What are common mistakes that people just starting this job make that I can avoid?" can open up the room to a great discussion, and give you some insight into whether your position is a new one, whether someone left, or someone was promoted and now you're filling in.

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Similarly, "What do you like best about working here?" is a great question to put to a group just for the variety of answers you'll likely get. Plus, if anyone in the room looks like they're having a difficult time coming up with an answer, that says a lot as well. Hit the link below for more tips to handle group interviews.